In an inaugural address that ranged from broad themes of unity to specific proposals on housing and education, New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte echoed the themes of her successful campaign while adding a new twist or two.
Ayotte, 56, was sworn in with her husband Joe by her side. Early in her remarks, she thanked her “wingman” husband, but she told the crowd, “Joe snores way louder than me.” (A reference to a TV ad the two did together during the campaign.)
Ayotte is the first Republican woman to be elected New Hampshire governor, and she follows the four-term administration of Gov. Chris Sununu, who endorsed her in the GOP primary.
“We’ve got the lowest tax burden in the country and the lowest poverty rate in the country. New Hampshire is moving in the right direction, and no one deserves more credit for that after four terms at the helm than Gov. Chris Sununu,” Ayotte said.
(CREDIT: Jeffrey Hastings)
Ayotte repeatedly pledged to work across party lines and to “be a governor for you, whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, independent, you name it.
“Minority Leaders (Sen. Rebecca) Perkins Kwoka and (Rep. Alexis) Simpson, I want you to know that my door is always open. Good government knows no party, so let’s show folks that even when partisanship is at a fever pitch, we can set a different example.”
At the same time, Ayotte reiterated her support for GOP policy positions, particularly on taxes and the budget. While Democrats continue to attack the GOP for eliminating the income tax on interest and dividends, Ayotte touted it as a win. And she added, “I’m not going to surprise anyone when I say this: no income tax, no sales tax, not now, not ever.”
Ayotte also returned to her “Don’t MASS Up New Hampshire” theme from last year’s campaign, calling the Massachusetts story a “cautionary tale.”
“Look at the out-of-control spending, tax hikes, illegal immigrant crisis, people and businesses leaving in droves — what is normal today in Massachusetts wasn’t always this way,” Ayotte added a direct appeal to Bay State businesses to move across the state line.
“We’d love to have you bring your talents to the Granite State. Reach out to us — we’re happy to show you why it’s better here.”
Ayotte also used Massachusetts as one reason New Hampshire “needs to ban sanctuary policies in our state, and I am counting on the legislature to do just that this term.”
“They’ve spent over a billion dollars housing migrants rather than investing in their law-abiding residents. We can’t allow that to happen here,” Ayotte added.
Ayotte named addressing the state’s housing shortage as a priority, and she subtly suggested that local communities reluctant to welcome new housing need to join the effort.
“As a state, we must model good behavior if we are going to ask the same of our local communities that are making these zoning decisions. That starts with overhauling agency approvals, so they take no more than 60 days from start to finish.”
(CREDIT: Jeffrey Hastings)
Perhaps the biggest surprise was Ayotte’s announcement she’s bringing in outsiders to look at the state budget and suggest efficiencies, similar to President-elect Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Ayotte acknowledged a difficult budget process is ahead for state government.
“Business revenue is coming in lower than the past few years. And that means we’ve got to tighten the belt here in Concord,” Ayotte said. “So we are going to have to make reductions and recalibrate from the higher spending of the last few years.”
And, she added, “Because I know nothing is harder than getting politicians to not spend money, today I am announcing the creation of the Commission on Government Efficiency, or as I like to call it – the ‘COGE.’”
Later that afternoon, Ayotte signed her first executive order, creating the COGE and naming former Gov. Craig Benson and Bedford businessman Andy Crews as co-chairs.
“COGE will consist of 15 members, including one state senator appointed by the Senate President and one state representative appointed by the speaker of the House,” according to a statement from the governor’s office.
Perhaps the biggest applause line of Ayotte’s speech was her pledge to “make sure that New Hampshire is the most veteran-friendly state in the nation.”
Another was when she announced, “We will be taking action to ban cell phones in our schools.”
“Screens are negatively impacting our learning environments, drawing students’ attention away from their classes, and becoming a barrier for teachers to do their jobs,” Ayotte said. “No more.”
During her campaign for governor, Ayotte made her support for school choice a top issue, and she made the case for it on Thursday as well.
“I applaud the work the legislature has done to expand opportunities for families through education freedom accounts and look forward to strengthening and expanding this program to ensure more families have the freedom to put their children in the learning environment that is best for them.”
And Ayotte concluded by reminding the lawmakers in the room that, “just in case you forgot — since the television ads haven’t been running for a few months — if you send me legislation that further restricts access to abortion beyond our current law: I will veto it.”
Republicans liked what they heard, while Democrats were less than impressed.
State Democratic Party chair Ray Buckley promptly played the Trump card in response.
“From quipping about merging Canada with New Hampshire to bringing on an underwhelming millionaire infamous for being a one-term governor to oversee government efficiency — something Craig Benson has absolutely no experience with — Gov. Ayotte is following in Trump’s footsteps and setting on a dangerous and costly path for New Hampshire.”
“While we are optimistic that we can make bipartisan progress, we also recognize that Gov. Ayotte is presiding over the same Republican Party that has prioritized culture war issues over solving the real issues folks care about,” said House Minority Leader Alexis Simpson (D-Exeter).
But Rep. Joe Sweeney (R-Salem) told NHJournal he liked Ayotte’s COGE idea.
“Forming the Commission on Government Efficiency is going to save New Hampshire taxpayer dollars, ignite our entrepreneurial spirit, and fix state government.”
And Rep. Liz Barbour (R- Hollis) praised Ayotte for being specific and direct.
“I just love that she was so honest about what she’s going got planned for us coming up,” Barbour said. “The EFA’s, her support for no cellphones in school –she was right up front about everything.”
